What are the responsibilities and job description for the Criminal Defense Attorney position at Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC?
Criminal Defense Attorney
Smithfield, NC · On-Site · Full-Time · YO PELEO® POR TI
At Vasquez Law Firm, "Yo Peleo" — I fight — isn't a slogan. It's who we are. We fight for our clients with skill, heart, and unshakable purpose. We're looking for one exceptional criminal defense attorney to stand in the well of the courtroom and do exactly that.
This is a trial lawyer's seat at a fast-growing bilingual firm that serves the people of North Carolina in the language they trust. If you live for the courtroom and lead with integrity, read on.
First, the non-negotiables
We list these up front, out of respect for your time. You must have all three:
- Active North Carolina Bar license, in good standing, authorized to practice criminal law in NC. This role cannot consider attorneys who are not licensed in North Carolina.
- 5 years of criminal litigation, with significant courtroom and trial experience.
- Full alignment with our core values (below) — we hire for them as seriously as we hire for skill.
A strong plus: fluent Spanish. Many of our clients are Spanish-speaking, and the ability to build trust in their language will set you apart.
If that's you, keep reading. If it isn't, we're grateful you stopped by.
How we hire — and why it's different
We hire A-players: attorneys who are excellent at what they do and who make everyone around them better. Our process is rigorous by design, and it's built to find them:
- Application & résumé review
- An in-depth, chronological career interview — the wins, the losses, and what you learned from both
- A trial-skills and Spanish-language assessment, plus a writing sample
- Reference conversations with your former supervisors — the people you actually reported to
- Offer
The attorneys we hire tell us they love this process — it's the first time a firm has taken the full measure of their work. If you're proud of your track record and happy to have us speak with the people who've seen it up close, you'll feel right at home here.
What you'll own
- Represent clients at every stage — first appearances, bond hearings, motions, plea negotiations, trials, sentencing, and appeals.
- Build legal strategies that are aggressive, ethical, and relentlessly client-focused.
- Mentor and develop junior attorneys and staff — your experience makes the whole team stronger.
- Uphold the highest standards of honesty, service, and client advocacy in everything you sign.
Who you are
- A battle-tested criminal defense litigator who thrives under pressure.
- A strategic thinker and a genuinely skilled oral advocate.
- A teacher at heart, ready to raise up the attorneys and staff around you.
- Mission-driven — ready to be part of something bigger than yourself.
Compensation & benefits
$100,000 – $150,000, based on experience and performance — plus performance-based incentives.
- Full health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
- 401(k) with employer match
- Paid time off
- Paid CLEs and bar dues
- Paid training
- Continuous learning and development
- A supportive, purpose-driven team that treats you like a person — not a timesheet
Our core values
Family · Honesty & Integrity · Dedication · Innovation · Empowerment · I Fight
We believe our people should grow professionally while making a real difference in the lives of the families we serve every day.
About Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC
Vasquez Law Firm is a fast-growing bilingual firm dedicated to exceptional representation in Immigration, Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, and Criminal Defense. Our mission is simple: fight for our clients with excellence, integrity, and compassion — and build a culture where our people are empowered to grow while changing lives.
If you're ready to join a mission-driven team where your work truly changes lives, we want to hear from you.
Yo peleo por ti. ¿Peleas con nosotros?
*Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.